London has been battered by 50mph winds that have felled trees and caused travel chaos. Powerful gusts swept across the capital as the Met Office issued a yellow "be aware" weather alert for most of the country.

More than 5,000 children will be given free breakfasts to stop them going hungry during the school day, Boris Johnson announced today.

The Mayor’s Fund charity will allocate £650,000 to feed London’s most deprived primary pupils who would otherwise start lessons on an empty stomach. It follows a London Assembly investigation that found scores of children have passed out in class due to hunger, and 60 per cent of teachers have brought food in for pupils.

The funding will enable the charity Magic Breakfast to feed eligible pupils in 50 schools for three years. Each pupil will get a bagel, cereal or porridge and juice.

Eating with children from Haseltine primary in Lewisham this morning, the Mayor, who had porridge, said: “This brilliant scheme will be a catalyst for fuelling the energy of pupils, enabling them to reach their full potential.” Teachers say children who attend can concentrate longer and are better behaved.

The Assembly report into hunger, to be published in March, found more than 95 per cent of teachers had some pupils who start the day without eating.

Magic Breakfast already funds 122 breakfast clubs in London. New clubs will be set up in Hackney, Islington, Lambeth, Lewisham, Newham, Southwark and Tower Hamlets, in schools where more than half of pupils receive free meals.

Founder Carmel McConnell said: “With rising child hunger, this is essential. The clubs also allow children time to spend reading, socialising, and preparing for the day.”